Fracking is big election theme in NY's gas region

Associated Press

Published 12:05 am, Saturday, November 3, 2012

ALBANY — In some southern New York communities likely to get shale gas wells if Gov. Andrew Cuomo lifts a moratorium on drilling, "fracking" is a key issue in Tuesday's election, with both opponents and supporters working to get out the vote and candidates up and down the ballot talking about it.

Local races are viewed as crucial, since dozens of town boards around the state have voted this year to ban or put a moratorium on gas drilling while other elected bodies passed resolutions making it clear they won't oppose gas drilling. Two of the municipal bans are now being challenged in the state's appeals court in Albany.

The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York, which supports hydraulic fracturing — known as fracking — to retrieve natural gas trapped in shale formations, has released a list of political endorsements for about 20 candidates statewide, saying each of them "has shown a commitment to landowner rights and is vital in moving their agenda forward."

"Electing pro-gas candidates at the local level will be crucial while we wait for our courts to determine the extent of local and state control over natural gas development," said coalition leader Dan Fitzsimmons.

A coalition of local gas-drilling opponents in Broome County has released its own list of candidate endorsements.

"Many feel that this election is a referendum on gas drilling," said Sue Rapp, a member of Concerned Citizens of Broome County. The group opposes fracking. "Certainly many of the candidates, including our congressional candidate Dan Lamb, are running on an anti-frack platform."

Hydraulic fracturing has made it possible to tap into deep reserves of oil and gas but has also raised concerns about pollution. Large volumes of water, along with sand and hazardous chemicals, are injected underground to break rock apart and free the oil and gas. Contaminated wastewater from the process can leak from faulty well casings into aquifers, but it's often difficult to trace underground sources of pollution. Some studies also have shown air quality problems around gas wells, while others have indicated no problems.

Regulators contend that overall, water and air pollution problems are rare, but environmental groups and some scientists say there hasn't been enough research on those issues. The industry and many federal and state officials say the practice is safe when done properly, and many rules on air pollution and disclosure of the chemicals used in fracking are being strengthened.

The New York Times reported in June that Cuomo was considering allowing shale gas development in communities that supported it in Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Steuben and Tioga counties along the Pennsylvania border. Drilling has been banned since 2008 when the state began an environmental review of fracking. It's unclear when Cuomo will declare the review complete and decide whether to allow fracking.

"I do believe an issue like this can have a major impact on elections in a specific area," said Steven Greenberg of the Siena College poll. "I don't think it's an issue at all in western New York, northern New York, New York City or the Capital Region. But certainly in the Southern Tier where this issue has real local meaning because the fracking would take place there, absolutely this could be an issue in campaigns."

The Siena poll has been asking voters about fracking for the last few years, and the poll last week was the first to show a small plurality in favor of moving forward with drilling, 42 percent in favor and 36 percent against. Previous polls have shown voters about evenly split on the issue, Greenberg said.

While candidates in some local races have made fracking their key issue — some of them are running for office for the first time because of it — state and congressional candidates have for the most part been careful not to take a strong official position on either side.

One of the races that focuses sharply on fracking is for the executive's job in Broome County, one of the counties that scientists say could hold the most gas in New York's share of the Marcellus Shale formation. In that race, Tarik Abdelazim, former deputy mayor of Binghamton who opposes fracking, is challenging incumbent Debby Preston, a strong supporter of gas drilling.

That race is "stupendously important," Rapp said.

Incumbent Republican Rep. Richard Hanna, challenged by Lamb for the seat representing the newly drawn 22nd Congressional District, has said in a public statement that hydraulic fracturing "has the potential to produce significant positive economic benefits." But he added that he only supports fracking in New York "if it is proven by science to be safe and would not put our water supply at risk."

Lamb, a frequent speaker at anti-fracking rallies, has been a top adviser to retiring Rep. Maurice Hinchey, co-author of the FRAC Act which would require oil and gas industry to disclose chemicals used in fracking. He called the election "a referendum on unsafe, unstudied drilling, and it's a race we must win."

State Sen. Tom Libous, deputy majority leader, is one of the strongest supporters of fracking in Albany, although he says decisions should be left to the scientists and experts at DEC. He's opposed by former Whitney Point Mayor John Orzel, who has made fracking a central part of his platform.

In the U.S. Senate race, the landowner coalition has endorsed Republican Wendy Long's campaign against Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. Long supports drilling for economic development reasons, saying it hasn't caused adverse health effects in other states. Gillibrand wants strong controls in place to protect health and environment before drilling is allowed.